GAZETTE & HERALD: PENSIONER Marion Cross, 72, from Bristol, feared the worse when she mislaid her purse and heart medication while shopping in Chippenham last week. But a mystery child made sure she got it back.

Now Mrs Cross is appealing for the young Good Samaritan to come forward, so she can reward him for his kindness.

Mrs Cross came to Chippenham with her daughter and two granddaughters for a change of scene last week, but after browsing through the shops, she realised she had lost her bag containing her purse and vital medication for high blood pressure.

"We sat down on a bench opposite Dixons in the High Street for a rest and from there we went on to do more shopping, but I then realised that I was without my handbag," said Mrs Cross.

"It contained my purse with £40 cash but also my pills, my emergency medical card and my bus pass.

"I began to panic and we quickly split up into several shops asking if anyone had handed it in.

"But I was really worried, as I knew that it would have been unlikely to have been handed in if I had lost it where I live in Bristol.

"We were then to sent to the security office in Emery Gate, where we were told that a young boy who had been shopping with his parents had handed it in.

"What a relief! I was over the moon."

But when Mrs Cross asked for the name of the young lad who had handed in her bag, so she could send him a thank-you note and a little reward, the security guards revealed he had left no forwarding details.

Mrs Cross would love to know who helped her in her hour of need.

"It would be nice to say a big thank-you," she added.

"We had a lovely day shopping in Chippenham and after a bit of a scare we went away thinking it was a really helpful and friendly place this person made me a very happy shopper."

Mrs Cross can be contacted via her daughter, Beverly Folland on (0117) 9563619.